--- {"title": "Deploy request software on a cluster for homelab operators", "description": "A how-to for Kubernetes homelab operators who want household members to request movies and shows, with setup steps, a tool comparison and common mistakes.", "url": "https://vlcleanplayer.com/how-to-deploy-request-software-on-a-cluster-for-kubernetes-homelab-operators/", "date": "2026-11-07"} --- A how-to for Kubernetes homelab operators who want household members to request movies and shows, with setup steps, a tool comparison and common mistakes. Set up a place where household members can request movies and shows, decide how requests reach your library, and share simple house rules. | Option | Request method | Cost details | |---|---|---| | Askarr | You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [^1] | The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [^1] | | Request form | People submit movie or show titles through the chosen form. | not published | | Shared request list | People add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list. | not published | ## What you need before you start Make sure your Kubernetes cluster is running and can reach your Radarr and Sonarr, and decide who may send requests. Prepare clear guidelines on which movies and shows are allowed, so users know what they can request. Keep the rules straightforward, such as saying whether users can ask for any title or only certain categories of movies and television shows. Have Radarr and Sonarr working and reachable if you want requests to pass straight into them. Decide who will oversee and approve requests before any media is fetched or added. Choose where users will send their requests. The choice can be a website, a form, or another place where people type in the titles they want. ## Step by step 1. Pick one place where everyone sends requests, and ask everyone to use only that place. 2. Decide who checks new requests and whether you approve each title before it is added to Radarr or Sonarr. 3. Write a short guide for the people in your house that says who can request titles, what kinds of movies and shows are allowed, and how they will hear when a title is added. 4. Send the guide and request link to household members, with brief steps on how to search for a title and submit it through the request page. 5. Review new requests on a chosen day each week, approve good requests, and turn down any that break your house rules. 6. After the first week, ask people what confused them and update the guide to make those points clearer. 7. Check now and then that requests reach Radarr and Sonarr and that none are stuck or left behind. ## Tools that can do it Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. Askarr is a hosted site that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. [^1] You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [^1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [^1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [^1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [^1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [^1] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [^1] You can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. [^1] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [^1] Askarr's project file marks its code as private. [^1] The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [^1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [^1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [^1] The Pro plan has no monthly request limit. [^1] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. [^1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [^1] No other tool is named here because no source facts about other tools were provided. Check how each tool handles title searches, approvals and updates. ## Common mistakes to avoid Avoid publishing a request method without explaining the submission rules to your users. Participants need to know what types of media titles can be requested and who decides what gets added to the media library on the cluster. Avoid choosing a request tool without checking how it fits into your existing workflow for adding movies and shows. Check new requests regularly after setup. The list of requests gets messy if old or repeated ones are left sitting there. Check who can see your data before you start using a tool. Check what logins a tool asks for and what it does with people's details before inviting people to send requests. ## Frequently asked questions ### How can Askarr collect movie and show requests from a household? Kubernetes homelab operators can choose a request method, decide who can submit titles, and explain what happens after a request is sent. The important parts are giving users a clear place to request movies and shows and keeping the review process easy to follow. ### Can a request tool work with Radarr and Sonarr? Check how each request tool handles Radarr and Sonarr before choosing one. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [^1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [^1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [^1] ### Does Askarr require changes to the Kubernetes cluster? Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [^1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [^1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [^1] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [^1] ### How do users find movies and shows to request with Askarr? Users can request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [^1] You can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. [^1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [^1] ### What should be checked before choosing a request tool for a cluster? Check how a tool handles requests, title searches, updates, and the process for adding movies and shows. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [^1] The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [^1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [^1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [^1] The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [^1] - [Visit Askarr](/go/start) ## Sources [^1]: Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start)